Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-04

had rendered heroic measures neces-
sary. In the meantime the arrangement of
the London debt, the interior debt, the
railroad and other concessions were all re-
vised by the interchangeable Minister. at
the end of one year Senior Dublau declared
that the Government could now resume
payment of subsidies, restore the reduced
salaries of the public servants and begin to
pay the interest on the national debt
The natural result of this wise course is
that business has greatly improved. Look
ing over the revenue returns for the fiscal
year ending June 80 1886. we find the fig
ures were little over $29000,OO0; while
for the FIST eight months of the current
fiscal year (up to February 2Sth) the rev.
enue reached upwards of $27 600, 000. On
all sides the Mexicans attribute their in
creased revenues largely to the progressive
development of trade with the United
States which the railroads have SO greatly
facilitated. In the matter of stamp duties,
the increase in this source of revenue alone
is nearly five million dollars during the
aforementioned eight months, over the
whole of the last fiscal year. This certainly
is good showing for Minister Dublau and
for Mexicos long-lost credit in the money
markets of the world. But after all, what
shall We say of Government which re-
alizes large part of its income by con-
Quoting a !" national lottery" and ma
tional pawnshop."
Just now the Secretary OF the Treasury
Is engaged in amending the customary
tariffs and regulations, so as to render them
more favorable to the commerce of Mexico,
by increasing some of the duties and max
ing important reductions in others. In
this connection may be mentioned that new
TELEGRAPH MONOPOLY SCHEME
So displeasing TO Americans. The Mexi-
can Government has recently issued an
order 10 the several railroad and telegraph
companies in Mexico limiting their tele-
graph privileges TO the transaction OF rail-
road business only, and forbidding COM
mercial or news messages. 1t is alleged
that the cable is the only telegraph system
in this country which by the terms of its
charter is entitled to the privilege of send
ing or receiving commercial or news mes
sages. OF course the object of the order is
to secure business for the Government
lines, although the officials themselves
acknowledge their inability to compete
with the American enterprise, as the latter
has been making clean profit of 100 per
cent. on all other than railroad messages
By the terms of the edict, the Govern
ment also claims the right to fine and 9TH
erwise to punish correspondents for past
Though as yet there is no
law on the subject, and the charter recites
no penalty, so that in such cases it is left
entirely with the Government to fix the fine
or punishment. There are usually two
fines and then forfeiture of the privilege
The Mexican Central road will be the
greatest loser by enforcement of the ordi-
nance, as their Office at the City of Mexico
alone realizes at least forty thousand dollars
N
Associated Press of Mexico also receives its
news by this line, and the new order will
operate disastrously on this feature of Mex
lean journalism, as it will double the tariff
on news messages. For instance, the ordi-
nary tariff on two thousand words between
the CITY OF Mexico and the northern bor-
der will be nearly 500. Probably the rail-
roads will contend for their rights; but as
the Mexican Government wishes to secure
the advantages for its own telegraph sys-
tenn, and as by special stipulations in the
charters conceded 10 foreign companies and
corporations all controversies of the kind
are required to be settled in the Courts of
this country, there can be no doubt of the
issue.
THE MINISTER OF WAR.
General Hinojosa pronounced Ee-no-ho-
sah) has ably seconded all movements to-
ward economy. which did not directly
touch his own department Since it is well
known in Mexico that he who can control
the army controls the country, it is prime
principle that whoever may be left in
arrears as to his just dues, it must not be
these substantial props TO the Government.
Gonzalez, being himself soldier. under
stands this thoroughly, and during his adj
ministration the military favorites garnered
rich harvest. Though so universally
hated, the strength which makes this ex
President so formidable rival in the way
of Diaz ambition, lies in the fact that his
soldiers are sure of liberal share of all
his stealings.
The present War Minister is a portly and
affabie old gentleman, whose sturdy honesty
i'll place where "pickings are easy. is
rare enough TO cause much comment in q
country where everybody who can helps
himself from the public crib. War Minis
tiers before him have built elegant man
slons within six months after taking the
office, and at the end of the term have left
their posts rolling in wealth Some wears
before entering the Cabinet General Hino
josa began building modest cottage in the
suburbs of the city, and after occupying his
office two years and half the house still
remains unfinished, though its cost when
completed will not be more than $4,000.
lie does not even own carriage. but rides
between his home and the palace in n
second-class hack, whose legalized tariff is
so cents per hour.
1t has been said that government of the
people, for the people, and by the people,
which cannot protect the people, should
perish from the face of the earth - and If
this be true, the extinction of the present
Government of Mexico is only question
of time. In truth. the Ministers are hut
the Secretaries of an absolute presidential
will, which orders and directs all manner
of things, from bull-fght to declaration
of war. Yet, their intimate knowledge of
presidential foibles and shrewd devices by
which to mold the presidential mind gives
them power second only 10 that of the
supreme ruler of the nation Indeed. such
autocrats are these officials under the pres
ent mis-called Republican Government.
that people speak of them derisively as
The six Kings of Mexico" and of the
President as Dictator Diaz.
In many instances a Minister may dis
pense with personal application to the Ex-
ecutive, and employ his own name with
the same effect. This affords latitude
more than dangerous-a privilege synony-
nous with the
LEITREs DE CACHET
Of the old regime in France, and here even
more formidable, because made use of with
much less formality and greater frequency.
Are you anxious to get rid of a trouble
some fellow who is ogling your sweetheart
or has fixed his eyes upon some position
which you desire, or stands between YOUR
self and the same, or doing anything else
you do not like? If you are friend of
any one of the Ministers, or, better still.
friend of some clerk in his office. you
can easily obtain (either through friend
ship or stipulated consideration Gov
ernmental order, dispatching the offensive
person to the prison of Belam, or to some
other place you may name. as suspected
revoluuonist, or an enemy to the Govern
ment in some guise. To be sure, he NAV
have family of his own, or business
which requires his constant attention but
such trif1es matter not straw If Won
weigh more than he does.
The tricks 10 which some well. bribed
Minister of the past. rolling in the wealth
and rich presents which this corruption in
sured, have been known to resort in order
to obtain the Presidents signature to some
paper necessary to the success of their
clients cause, are SIS ingenious as they were
effective. No matter how hopeless the
the case may seem, nor how much of a
f.,ra